‘SMEs, MSMEs keys to economic dev’

Staff reporterBangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman on Saturday said successful Micro small (MSMEs), and small and medium (SMEs) entrepreneurs will help Bangladesh emerge as a successful economy in the world.Describing SMEs and MSMEs as ‘key driving forces’ for country’s economic development, the central bank governor said, “Bangladesh will set an example by emerging as a successful economy with the initiatives of our successful SMEs and MSMEs.”“MSMEs contribute up to 30% of GDP and it is creating employment for 25% of the total labor force,” he said, while addressing a seminar on “SME Development: Role of an effective SME association” at Diploma Engineers Institute in the city.A 10-member delegation of ‘IamSME India’ led by Rajive Chawla, chairman of IamSME of India, took part at the seminar.Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), Rural Development Academy (RDA) Bogra, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI), Basic Bank Ltd, and IDLC Finance jointly organized the seminar.Sandeep Chakravorty, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, said countries like India and Bangladesh were not affected by world economic instability, as SMEs and MSMEs emerged as a thriving sector.Three memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed during the seminar.Rajive Chawla, chairman of IamSME of India, presented a keynote paper on the occasion.SME entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, members of different associations and chambers attended the seminar.